FTC warns two trade associations and a dozen influencers about social media posts promoting consumption of aspartame or sugar

Bloggers and social media influencers posting promotions on sugar consumption and the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame found warning letters from the Federal Trade Commission in their mailboxes this week, the FTC reported.

The letters are calling out two trade organizations, the American Beverage Association and The Canadian Sugar Institute, and a dozen registered dieticians and other online health influencers for failing to disclose that they are receiving industry funding to send out their messages, the FTC said.

“It’s irresponsible for any trade group to hire influencers to tout its members’ products and fail to ensure that the influencers come clean about that relationship,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in an FTC press release. “That’s certainly true for health and safety claims about sugar and aspartame, especially when made by registered dieticians and others upon whom people rely for advice about what to eat and drink.”

The warning letters also referenced specific concerns as well as the penalties that could be applied for each offense.